Drug abuse among youth cause for concern: Former Himachal CM Shanta Kumar

Our Correspondent

Palampur, June 27

Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar said the state had been facing the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse among youth, which was a matter of concern. He said the situation was alarming so the state agencies like the police should act before things goes out of control like in Punjab.

Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon, Shanta said with the rising number of rave parties in Himachal Pradesh over the past few days, it looks like state agencies were losing their grip on drug peddlers and traffickers in the state. He said in the past few days, in Kullu district alone, the state police had arrested 80 persons participating in rave parties, along with charas, cocaine, ganja and other drugs. Schoolchildren were the worst affected by addiction, he said.

“The drug problem is a serious threat to the public health, safety and well-being of humanity. Besides, it is considered to be the originator of petty offenses as well as heinous crimes like smuggling and money laundering,” Shanta said.

He alleged that drug traffickers were seamlessly trafficking various types of drugs from one corner of the state to the other, “ensuring availability” of the contraband for the “vulnerable segments” of society, who fall into the trap of drug peddlers and traffickers. Unfortunately, there is no check on the free movement of drugs in the state and the border districts are the worst affected, he said.

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